Technologies

In our recent publication we identified a group of  bladder cancer-specific ncRNA, called T-UCRs that are the most up-regulated in bladder cancer patient samples compared with normal bladder urothelium.

Chemical solution deposition of metal-organic precursors have favoured the research and development of thin films of simple and complex oxides such as Pb(Zr,Ti)O3, and Al2O3, up to their industrial application in pyroelectric and capacitor devices. Deposition methods used are spin-on and dip-coating. The advantages of the techniques are:

(i) low cost of equipment and chemicals

(ii) large area deposition

(iii) low crystallisation temperatures

The object of the technology is the development of a transferable methodology from the laboratory scale to the pilot scale to be validated in the industrial setting for the treatment of basic waste of natural polymers of agro-food or manufacturing industry.

Portable robotic device for bilateral neuromotor rehabilitation. An appropriate mechanical structure and a series of interchangeable accessories suitably designed allow the execution of various motor gestures of the upper limbs, involving different articulations and muscles. The possibility of being used with both limbs contributes to the recovery of motor coordination and facilitates the mechanism of brain plasticity. Some rotary axes the device is equipped with are motorized and sensorized.

The instrumentation is based on the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) which is a non-invasive geophysical technology used to obtain information on anomalous bodies possibly present in the subsoil. The theoretical basis lies in the different electrical properties of the lithotypes present in the subsoil.

Recently, nanoparticles and nanovesicles have been investigated as potential approaches for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, in the Biotech sector an increasingly deeper penetration of new treatment models and biological drugs based on cellular, subcellular and vesicle therapies is expected. The patent is based on the production of Myelin-based nanoVesicles (MyVes) produced by microfluidics, starting from myelin extracted from brain tissue. These vesicles find two major fields of applications as potential drugs or as supplements/nutraceuticals.

Severe asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are nowadays associated with a poor response to corticosteroids which led to the use of high-dose with consequent improved onset of side effects. The use of nanotechnologies can represent an innovative approach for the effective treatment of both asthma and COPD. The development of new nano-formulations involving the use of nanomaterials and specifically tailored to be inhaled offers numerous advantages over conventional inhaled dosage forms.

We have identified compounds that show a neuroprotective action in vivo, in models of neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. SMA, Parkinson, Alzheimer, Huntington) in the model organism C. elegans. These compounds consist of: mixtures of 22 natural extracts, 15 natural molecules and 11 synthetic molecules.

Quartz tuning forks are employed in scanning atomic force microscopy (AFM), as well as in some derived techniques, as high sensitivity detectors of interactions, of both conservative and dissipative kind, between the AFM nanometric probe and the investigated surface. However, the contributions of the two kinds of interaction result as convoluted in the sensor response, preventing fully quantitative measurements of the quantities of interest.

The technology concerns planar optical antennas composed of thin metal films and dielectric materials for the efficient direction of the light emitted by light sources, such as fluorescent molecules and bio-markers. They consist of a reflector layer, adjacent to the substrate, and a director, semi-reflective, between which the emitter is positioned, integrated into a homogeneous dielectric layer.

The technology refers to an innovative plasma (ionized gas) source operating at atmospheric pressure and low electric power levels. A cold plasma is produced, characterized by an ion temperature significantly lower than the electron temperature. Partial ionization of a Helium flux is induced by a time-varying electric field in between two parallel grids, both perpendicular to the flux itself.

The platform allows acquisition of data from commercial and custom sensors. By now, the system has been embedded in a wearable wristband where elastomeric based strain gauge have been integrated to detect fine hand/wrist/arm movements. The platform integrates inertial sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes) to acquire more details about the subject movements. A sensor-fusion algorithm enables advanced movement recognition (gesture, 3D orientation). A machine-learning algorithm is in development to increase the performance of the platform.

The proposed technology deals with the development of active SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering) substrates ad hoc designed for diagnostics of cultural heritage. The substrates are prepared starting from common commercial 'polishing film' sheets (lapping optical fibers) showing an intrinsic roughness (48- 1000 nm) that favors the SERS effect. A pattern of silver or gold nanoparticles are deposited on these films through Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD).

The instrument which is under development is a non-conventional portable Raman spectrometer. Raman spectrometers provide the molecular composition of the material surfaces, essential for their identification. The instrument peculiarity relies in the simultaneous acquisition of Raman spectra at imaged position and at different micrometric distances (offset) from the laser illumination area.

Recently, it has been demonstrated that Raman spectroscopy can play a fundamental role in assisting the work of the anatomopathologist by allowing classification of oncological samples with practically 100% accuracy in oncological diagnosis.